The Outdoors Brings Us Joy. But Does Everyone Feel Welcome?
The outdoors is our happy place, but for some it’s not always welcoming.
Why I Carry a Bear Can. And You Should Too
Why using a bear can is the best option for keeping your food safe in the backcountry.
Lil Buddha, an Outsider of the Year
Lil Buddha was born in a Thai refugee camp after fleeing the spillover of the Vietnam War. After getting a taste of the Colorado Mountains, Buddha began his journey that has carried him over 40,000 miles.
Adventure’s End
What do we owe each other at the end?
Thru-Hiking and My Unrealistic Body Image Expectations
I was in incredible shape when I finished the Colorado Trail. But I couldn’t maintain it, which led to a host of body-image issues.
Naked and Afraid with Reptar
Andrew “Reptar” Forestall is a thru-hiker and most recently was a contestant on Naked and Afraid. We were able to catch up with Andrew about the experience and whether or not thru-hiking had any relevancy to the experience
Yes, Real Backpackers Use Electronics (An Open Letter to Internet Commenter Guy)
Everyone has their own path, and as long as that path doesn’t hurt or inconvenience other human beings, or detract from their enjoyment of the wilderness (i.e. Bluetooth speakers!) it’s all good, baby.
Maggie’s Colorado Trail Q & A
Hello! I recently thru-hiked the 486-mile Colorado Trail, and I did a Q&A about my solo hike on the ol’ social media. How basic of me! I’m answering a selection of those questions here, with better grammar and more detail, along with a handful of other questions I’ve received in Read more…
Beaver Fever
Backpacking Routes co-founder Andrew Marshall contracted Giardia while hiking the Colorado Trail. The trail went fine. Life got messy once he was home though.
Where Did Your Gear Come From? Triaging Ethical Consumerism in the Outdoor Community
Should consumers take more responsibility in the ethics of our purchases? After discovering the unethical origins of a piece of his gear, Jacob examines this idea in triage scenarios for ethical consumerism